That certainly appears to be the case for the Miami Dolphins, and a number of NFL teams heading in 2012.

The Dolphins have a $9 million cap surplus from 2011, which could be used to re-sign Cameron Wake.

Last season the Dolphins were $9,057,393 under the salary cap because of decisions the front office made not to trade and then extend the contract of former Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton, and not extend players like Paul Soliai and Kendall Langford during the season, preventing them from heading into free agency.

Turns out the Dolphins will get to carry that $9 million surplus over to ‘12 if they don’t re-sign anyone before March because of a clause put into the new CBA.

On page 96 of the CBA the contract states….

“(v) Carrying Over Room. A Club may “carry over” Room from one League Year to the following League Year by submitting notice in writing signed by the owner to the NFL no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the new League Year indicating the maximum amount of Room that the Club wishes to carry over. The NFL shall promptly provide a copy of any such notice to the NFLPA. The amount of Room carried over will be adjusted downward based on the final Room available after the year-end reconciliation.”

Here’s what it means in non-lawyer jargon: The Dolphins, which presently have $116,636,173 worth of cap space used up, get an extra $9,057,393 applied to whatever the 2012 cap number is IF/WHEN owner Steve Ross requests it before March.

Considering the Dolphins plan to be buyers in free agency, especially when it comes to quarterback, expect Miami to submit that letter.

So, let us conservative estimate the new ‘12 salary is $123,375,000, which was the figure most NFL teams spent last season on an adjusted cap (after borrowing $3 million from future seasons).

Based on my journalist math (which means its usually not good) the Dolphins could have as much as $15,796,220 to work with in cap space without restructuring some contracts, or cutting players.

Of course, we won’t know for sure until the actual cap figure for 2012 is set.

But don’t go too excited because as I explained yesterday in my cap figure breakdown, each team will need to preserve $5 million or so to sign their rookie class.

However, with that in mind, the Dolphins have $10 million to spend on free agents, and that’s without restructuring a few contracts, which could create even more room (could also subtract it in Cameron Wake’s case).

There wasn’t one NFL teams that used up all of their cap room in 2011, which means all 32 NFL teams can use their surplus if they desire.

Some have a lot more than others. For instance, the Pittsburgh Steelers only left $506,570 while the New England Patriots can carry over $6,668,877 and the New York Jets have a $8,391,247 surplus.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can carry over $31,665,028. The Dallas Cowboys have $17,149,501 to carry over, and Tampa Bay has more than $25 million to carry over into 2012.

From a Peyton Manning standpoint, the Washington Redskins have $13.6 million in unused cap space. Arizona Cardinals have a little over $7 million, Cleveland has nearly $9 million, and Seattle has $21.2 million. That’s right…those teams can go drastically over the 2012 salary cap to sign Manning or Matt Flynn.

Considering every NFL team must spend up to the cap during the next two seasons it has become clear some clubs have a lot of shopping to do.

I never comment because it seems like the Fans of the same team seem to jump all over each other as if everyone knows best.. I just wat to thro something out there. I have been a fan for a long time and while we haven’t won a Super Bowl since 75, the one thing I loved about the 80’s and even some of the 90’s was consistency. They added pieces and we were contenders allot of years. In 95, free agency was in full gear and they started to try and buy the champions and over the years it has gotten worse and worse. Let’s overhaul the team every couple of years. Some might say it can’t be done with Free Agency, but living in NY, I see the Giants do it for years.. They also win super bowls. This team won 7 out of the last 9 games last year. Let’s see what this Coaching staff comes up with. Add some pieces, but we can’t clear everyone out and start again..Team is more than just putting a bunch of FA’s on the field.. It’s about Leadership, Cohesiveness, and Familiarity. That can only come with some form of consistency…

Great post! You also have to realize that the cap will not allow you to sustain a team for long if you stock it full of High Priced FA’s you are sacrificing the future…see the Jets over the past 5-10 years.

I am a Steelers fan…when Miami is losing…and there is a team that is consistant. Consistant in their coaches, player turnover etc. Remember they won a superbowl with Burris, Holmes and Randall El…who were not in their superbowl appearance recently.

They have the ability to shed really good players, then replace them with little drop off. And the key was Rothlesberger.

Is this a joke? Who have the Jets committed long term contracts to over 5-10 years thats crippled them? I bet you can’t even name more than 3. The team has developed an incredible nucleus of young talent in that time frame (Revis, Harris, Brick, Mangold). Where are these overpaid high priced FA you can name besides Holmes?

I believe the key to that is drafting talent and not falling into the trap of drafting for “need”……something this team usually does.

When you draft need you are constantly looking to plug holes and the problem is more show up. In 09′ most would have said the OL was the team’s strength, but you get an injury, a guy that declines, etc and the next thing you know the team is scurrying to find OL-men and wasting more 1st round picks on them.

Draft talent…… all positions are need. That’s my belief.
And I believe that’s what you see the best Franchises do. The Steelers are a perfect example of a team that drafts guys at positions of strength, and it allows them to turnover the roster and not miss a beat. Or look at the Giants – JPP was far from a “need”, but they drafted him and now he’s a star, the DL is still strong, and now they don’t need to break the bank signing or retaining other guys.

The Dolphins should have been running a form of the WC offense for years now. Good weather much of the time and even when it rains and gets windy the high percentage passing game still succeeds. Lots of short passes for YAC.

The WC offense is an efficient offense that sets up big plays. Strong running game and 12-15 pass attempts to the backs. Part of the ball control offense and setup.

The best screen we ran last year was Henne to DT against CLE. Henne almost got crushed but got it off just in time and DT would not be denied for the 10 yard TD. That’s the play that said this kid can be good for me.

The way the Jets have spent on bad decisions and going all in the last few years, you have to think they will be out of contention for a while.. Rex Cryan won’t last long.. His outburst are getting old in NY.. What is really funny is they are collecting Dolphins to salvage 2012.. It’s almost as humorous as the Fins looting the Cowboys the last 3 years.. ” I got an idea, in order for us to get better we should raid a team that loses as much or more than we do!”

All I can say, is that for some reason, Melo and Amare aren’t meshing together. I don’t if they ever will, so it’s always a possibility. It would be extremely ironic, because the only reason Melo came here, was because Amare was here. It would be pretty f’ed up to ship out Amare IMO.

Bush should be restructured IMHO. Sign him to a long term contract, lock him up…(he’s perfect for this system!) and get some immediate cap relief. Look for him, Jake, the Kickers (both of them), Marshall and Bell as the restructure candidates.

Some different then others. To Jake you broach the subject, but if he’s at all unhappy about it, you reassure him you think he’s worth every penny he’s contracted for, you just want to lock him up for the long term. With Bell, you tell him he restructures or he has to move on. With Brandon you say “well hell Brandon, you seemed like you wanted a QB in FA???” and with the kicker you say “your predecessor was a cap casualty, which is how you got this job.”

Also, DolFans, check out Stanford’s Jonathan Martin’s highlights as Left Tackle. He’s one of the reasons Andrew Luck had so much time in the pocket. I wouldn’t mind us picking him 1st… If he can transition to the RT position and perform as great, our Oline will be something to be reckoned with. I say we only get him if we get Manning though.

When I think core I think of only 5 guys on each side of the ball with everyone else being support guys (role players). I don’t think support guys can be considered core players on any team in any sport.

Omar, Since the dolphins are switching to a 4-3 Do you think they have a shot at or would consider Mario Williams?? If they restructure some contracts and if they resign wake and get Mario Williams can they still afford Manning or even Flynn?? What do you think if we got them.. of Mario Williams, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, and Cameron Wake as our new front 4??

I think that nine million will go a long way this year . I think it gives us leverage on players to restructure so we can pay them a little more up front instead of on the back end . Hopefully we are in a position next year without so much dead money . I think it could be huge for us .. Go Phins !

Not resigning solia frees up about 10-12 mill right there, does it not? That frees up a good chunk. Sign Peyton (take a chance he returns to his old form, which is Marino-esqueb draft a RT in 1st rnd to protect him, draft a qb in later rnds to groom and eventually take over. if Manning doesnt return to full form, we ride Moore this year and since (hopefully) Mannings deal will be mostly incentive based, we dont get burned too badly, its worth the risk IMO. Then lure doen either M.Colston, VJax, DJax or R.Wayne to play oppo BMarsh (be well Brian Hartline) and we have dangerously sick weapons to play with!!! DFENSE will suffer a bit from all the $$$ gettin thrown to offense but so be it. Tired of watchin 18-15 or 17-12 games, lets light sum teams up like i do my Philly Chirino’s!!! just my hopes for this offseason…..

I know this is going to sound crazy…. But how about if we can’t get Manning. We trade Brandon Marshall and our first round pick with St. Louis to get RG3! Then, we convince VJax and DJax to sign with us. DJax should be easy because he loves Miami… he’s always here every chance he can get. RG3 would be cheaper anyways and with Soliai’s and Marshall’s CapSpace gone, we should have enough money to sign VJax and Djax. Then, we address the defense with the second and third round picks. We’re still going to have a problem with our right Tackle but with RG3 being so mobile, he’ll be able to survive as long as Jake Long is covering his blind side. What do ya’ll think?

Also, DolFans, check out Stanford’s Jonathan Martin’s highlights as Left Tackle. He’s one of the reasons Andrew Luck had so much time in the pocket. I wouldn’t mind us picking him 1st… If he can transition to the RT position and perform as great, our Oline will be something to be reckoned with. I say we only get him if we get Manning though.

I think we draft rg3 only if he falls in our lap. Personally I’m not a Vincent Jackson fan . I think bm has a big season in this new offense . He’s going to get the ball in his hands alot more this year .

The only way RG3 falls in our lap as the 8th or 9th pick is if Tebow starts Tebowing for the Dolphins everyday from now till draft day….. or If Stephen Ross or Ireland blackmails Jesus. With that said… RGIII falling on our lap is impossible.

VJax and DJax, together, is better than one BM!!!!! Djax will stretch the field which will enable Bess to work the slot perfectly and even play better than Welker!! Then, they’ll have to double Vjax and account for Bush and RGIII at the same time which, my friends, is what i call MISSION IMPOSSIBLE IV!!! If that trade for some reason was to materialize… Our offense would be unstoppable!

Well, Idk, I feel like if they were going to do that… they would’ve extended his contract and paid him last year… They have an ego problem over there and hey “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”!!! Djax will automatically bring our special teams to top ten status… not to mention his field stretching abilities! The move about trading Marshall is only a good one if Djax and either RWayne or VJax signs with us also.

It’s an attractive trade for St. Louis to get BMarshall and our First Round pick because they get a great target for their quarterback and they get to draft either someone to protect their quarterback’s blindside or a pass rusher like Coples or Upshaw! Win Win for Everybody!!

But like I said before, first choice is Manning… We get manning, we draft an OT to protect him and help Bush break all type of records this year…. Hopefully, VC can be a great RG but just in case draft one with our third round pick. Manning, if he plays like a Manning, improves all of our receiving Corps including Gates and our running ability.

Anyway we could do worse than picking people out of the Green Bay system. This is kind of the same as taking Dallas personell as we did for 5 years but I think the coaches at Green Bay may be elite. I hope Philbin et all will get it done, whatever we do lets sign Matt Flynn toa 3 year contract, even if he su_cks he would be a great backup tp Payton lol.

You are wanting Demetrious Bell? Hopefully he keeps improving, while it looks like from those grades Sean Smith is going down hill. I think Sean needs to focus a bit more, but I didn’t realize he graded out so poorly.

please do whatever needs to be done to draft RG3. he would be perfect in a west coast style offense. he is smart, atheletic, and he has a strong arm. put murtha and jerry on the right side and coach em up. draft the best available pass rushers and TE’s you can find. also i’d like to see Chris Clemons and Reshard Jones tried at Free and Strong Safety respectively.they are too young to give up on and Jones was a SS in college. i think we can be good enough that any 1st rounders we give up over the next 1 or 2 years for RG3 will be in the late teens or lower. which means we have to make rounds 2-3-4 count. Manning WAS great and is now old and fragile and Flynn is Scott Mitchell give us THE MAN mr.ross.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More